Skip to main content
Donate to the 95 years appeal
Ministers ‘misled’ environmental impacts of new power plant, campaigners say
The low winter sunshine highlighting the volume of emissions from Drax Power Station near Selby, Yorkshire, December 9, 2005

SCOTTISH government ministers were misled on the potential environmental impacts of a new gas-fired power plant, according to environmentalists.

New research commissioned by Friends of the Earth Scotland (FoE) found that emissions from the proposed Peterhead 2 plant — to be built alongside an existing gas-fired facility — could amount to 1.25 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.

This is five times higher than estimated in the developer’s environmental impact assessment, submitted as part of the planning process.

The report found that “serious omissions and shortcomings” in the assessment, not least “wildly unrealistic” estimates of 90-95 per cent rates of on-site carbon capture — a level not yet achieved anywhere on Earth — resulted in a “severe underestimation of the project’s climate impact.”

Researchers also found the assessment failed to include upstream emissions generated in transporting gas to the plant.

The emissions would only increase over the plant’s 25-year lifespan as supplies shift from dwindling North Sea reserves to imports of liquefied natural gas by tanker.

FoE’s Alex Lee said: “[Developers] SSE and Equinor have deliberately hidden the true climate cost of their proposals to build a new gas burning power station at Peterhead.

“Scottish government ministers have been misled through selective carbon accounting and wildly unrealistic forecasts.

“In a bid to lock in expensive fossil fuel burning for another 30 years, these greedy energy companies are making claims about carbon capture that do not stand up to the slightest scrutiny.

“These companies seem willing to say whatever it takes to get this project built, leaving the Scottish public to bear the cost of its inevitable failure.

“When the Scottish government sees the true climate harm of this project, the only rational response will be to reject it and focus instead on rapidly building up Scotland’s renewable energy future.”

An SSE Thermal spokesman said: “With the UK government committing £22 billion to carbon capture, there can be no doubt over its role in delivering net zero.

“We remain fully confident that planning consent will be granted and that a decarbonised Peterhead will help to keep the lights on, unlock a renewables-led system and create and retain good jobs.”

A Scottish government spokesperson said: “It would not be appropriate to comment on a live planning application.

“A decision will be taken by ministers in due course following consideration of the application information, consultation responses and representations made by members of the public.”

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
More from this author
SNP Leader John Swinney joins parliamentary candidate Katy Loudon and party activists outside the party's campaign office in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, on the last day of campaigning for the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election, June 4, 2025
Scotland / 4 June 2025
4 June 2025
Unite union general secretary Sharon Graham, December 21, 20
Scotland / 4 June 2025
4 June 2025
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaks during a visit to BAE Systems in Govan, Glasgow, June 2, 2025
Scotland / 3 June 2025
3 June 2025
Similar stories
Extinction Rebellion Scotland activists outside the Scottish
Britain / 7 November 2024
7 November 2024
Shadow Energy Secretary Ed Miliband on board the jack-up bar
Features / 10 October 2024
10 October 2024
The government’s reliance on unproven and short-termist technology won’t deliver answers to today’s energy crisis, warns MARK MASLIN